What is the worth of your councillor’s vote?

The circus that civic leaders subject the country to every time there are mayoral elections continues unabated.

As we reported yesterday and today, candidates for the posts of mayor and chairpersons in the various local authorities are going to ridiculous lengths just to secure the seats.

As we speak, some councillors have been hosted in expensive hotels, even across the border in Tanzania, by some candidates to prevent their rivals from influencing them.

Clearly, the only way that can happen is through bribery, which begs the question: If the councillors are willing to take a candidate’s offer to live it up in a fancy hotel for a few days, how cheap are their votes?

What will prevent them from turning coat at the last minute if they get a more lucrative offer from the rival candidate? Even more ridiculous is the fact that Mayors are unlikely to be in office for long as a General Election is due by August next year, according to the Constitution Implementation Commission.

What then is the real motivation for the lavish spending on men and women who make little difference to the running of various urban authorities, and spend more time squabbling?

Why would councillors be paid Sh100,000 each on top of hotel accommodation worth Sh300,000 if it is not some form of inducement?

If elected officials are so easily bought, what will be the future of county governments? Will they not be overwhelmed by corruption and nepotism?

A councillor who sells his vote for king-size bed, free Internet access, a hot shower and satellite television is nothing but a charlatan.